Elastic Wristband

ABSTRACT

An elastic wristband with an elongate strip of injection molded resilient thermoplastic material and one or more graphic panels. The elongate strip includes a center portion, a left side portion and a right side portion joined by left and right living hinges. The central portion includes recessed areas for receiving the graphic panels which are visable through the molded thermoplastic material. The central portion of the elongate strip also includes end tabs that are welded together to form a continuous circular band. The band is elastic in nature and can fit over a person&#39;s hand and onto a person&#39;s wrist to form a decorative wristband.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation-in-Part application of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/385,152, filed Feb. 6, 2012.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of decorative wristband bracelets and more specifically to a customizable elastic wristband.

Decorative wrist bands have been worn by people from all countries for thousands of years. They can be made out of rigid materials such as metal, wood or plastic, and may have a hinged portion and clasp to allow the user to fit the band around the wrist without needing to ride over the larger hand portion. Some wristbands are made of flexible material such as leather or fabric or rubber. Rubber is one of the materials that is elastic and can therefore by placed on a person's wrist without the need for a hinge or clasp. The band can simply be stretched to fit over the hand portion and then released once the band is in the area of the wrist.

In recent times, rubber bracelets have been used and worn to tell the world that you support a certain cause. For example, a person might wear a pink breast cancer bracelet to tell the world that you support breast cancer research. The bracelet may have lettering embossed into it that identifies the cause. Some bracelets are made of cast rubber or silicone, which is a form of rubber. However, there is a deficiency in the prior technology in that each bracelet must be manufactured for a specific purpose. A breast cancer bracelet can not also be set up to be a diabetes bracelet, or a bracelet that has a sports team logo printed on it. Therefore it would be ideal to have a universal elastic bracelet that can be adapted to include any graphic image of choice depending on the likes and interests of the user.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the invention is to provide an elastic wristband that allows a user to customize the band with insertable graphic panels.

Another object of the invention is to provide an elastic wristband where the graphic panels are removable and/or interchangeable.

Another object of the invention is to provide an elastic wristband that is translucent or substantially transparent to allow the graphic panels held within the band to be easily seen.

Another object of the invention is to provide an elastic wristband that is manufactured in strip form and then has its ends joined to form a continuous band.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed an elastic wristband having an elongate strip of injection molded translucent or almost transparent, resilient thermoplastic material and one or more graphic panels. The elongate strip includes an elongate center portion and an elongate left side and an elongate right side portions, wherein the right and left side portions are joined to the elongate center portion along its elongate edges by integral living hinge members, or other attachment. The central portion includes recessed areas for receiving and holding graphic panels. The central portion of the elongate strip includes end tabs which are suitable for being joined together by welding or other means, including gluing. Once the end tabs are joined together a continuous circular band is formed. As the band is elastic in nature, it is capable of fitting over a person's hand and onto a person's wrist to form a decorative wristband.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention in bracelet form;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention in strip form;

FIG. 3 is a side section view of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention in bracelet form;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the second embodiment in the invention when partially open before welding the opposite ends;

FIG. 6 is an outside view of the second embodiment in an open flat position;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an inside view of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a display portion of the second embodiment taken as shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a solid portion of the second embodiment taken as shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 is a face view of a graphic panel;

FIG. 12 is a side view of a graphic panel.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the wristband with a colored surface and extended flat before welding; and

FIG. 14 is a third embodiment of the wristband invention with releasable adhesive panels.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.

Referring now to FIG. 1, we see a perspective view of the invention wristband 100 in the closed circular position. The circular band has an outside face and an inside face and includes a plurality of vertically oriented indentations 4 each extending transversely to the wristband elongate direction on the outside face eat at a position between recess locations 8 to allow for easier injection molding

An example of such a plastic is Versaflex CL 40 manufactured by GLS Corporation in McHenry Ill. However other manufacturers also make similar elastic moldable plastics. Because the plastic is almost transparent, a graphic panel 6 installed within the band 100 can be clearly seen. A seam line 2 is the edge of the tow folded left side and right side strips 18, 20, respectively.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the invention wristband 100 in the open position just after being released from an injection mold. The elongate strip includes an integral elongate central strip 22, an elongate left side strip 18 and an elongate right side strip 20. The left side strip 18 is attached to the left elongate edge of the central strip 22 by living hinge 14. The right side strip 20 is attached to the right elongate edge of the central strip 22 by a second living hinge 16. The recessed areas for receiving the graphic panels are the depressions 8 which are positioned at plural successive locations on the central strip 22 to allow room for the insertion of a graphic panel 6. After the graphic panels 6 are inserted, the left and right side strips 18, 20 are folded over and the two opposite end tabs 10, 12 are overlapped on each other and heat welded together forming a circular wrist band 100 as shown in FIG. 1. The graphic panels 6 can be customized to show a sports team as shown in FIG. 1, or a special cause, such as fighting breast cancer, or simply a decorative colorful design. The present design allows a user to fold open the two side strips 18, 20 and change the decorative panels 6 stored inside the wristband 100.

FIG. 3 shows a side section view that bisects the invention 100 when in the finished circular shape. Graphic panel 6 can be clearly seen trapped inside the outer central strip 22 and left side and right side inner strips 18, 20. The invention is economical to manufacture and can fit a variety of wrist sizes due to its elastic quality. Obviously various diameters of wristbands 100 can be manufactured for children or adults.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a wristband 200 having a top, i.e., outside strip 25 of stretchable plastic material, which has series, i.e., a plurality, of receiving indentations 27, i.e., pockets, on its inner face, extending around the outside strip 25. Each pocket 27 is used for holding a respective graphic panel 29. The wristband 200 has an inside strip 31 of stretchable plastic material bonded to the outside strip 25 at their respective edges. This inside strip includes a longitudinal slit 33 which permits access to the inside area between the inside face of the outside strip 25 and the inside face of the inside strip 31.

The individual graphic panel receiving indentations 27, on the inner face of the outside strip 25, are manually accessed through the slit 33. With the inside strip 31 being of stretchable plastic material, slit 33 expands and stretches, whereby graphic panels 29 can be manually installed and removed from the respective receiving indentations 27. When permitted to return to its original size and shape, the inside strip 31 holds each graphic panel 29 in place within its respective indentation 27.

Each end of the outside strip 25 and inside strip 31 have a respective end tab 35, 37. These end tabs 35, 37 are bonded together by heat welding to form the circular wristband.

The wristband 200 can be seen in a perspective view in FIG. 5, in an open state, before the welding of the end tabs 35, 37. The inside strip 31 is bonded on its peripheral edges, by any of several means, including over-molding, to the peripheral edges of the outside strip 25.

The outside strip 25 may be molded separately as an elongate member, FIG. 6, with the series graphic panel indentations 27, i.e., pockets 27, formed into one side thereof. The panel indentations 27 defines the inside face 39 of the outside strip 25.

The outside face 41 of the inside strip 31 is shown in FIG. 8. The slit 33 extends longitudinally down the middle through the outside face 41 of the inside strip 31 to provide access to the series of panel indentations 27.

The end tabs 35, 37 face in opposite directions, FIG. 7, which become juxtaposed when the elongate strips 25, 31 sandwich is curved around to form the wristband 200 shape, FIG. 4. Each end tab 35, 37 extends entirely across the width of the elongate strips 25, 31.

The slit 33 provides access to a respective indentation pocket 27 in the inside face of the outside strip 25, FIG. 9. In a region of the outside strip 25, without an indentation pocket 27, FIG. 10, inside strip 31 seats against the inside face of the outside strip 25.

The graphic panel can be of any size and shape compatible with the size and shape of an indentation pocket. Conveniently, the graphic panels 29 can be rectangular in shape, FIG. 11, and uniformly flat with a uniform thickness, FIG. 12.

The wristband can be made in many sizes and size ratios. Changing sizes will contribute to a change in the looks of the finished wristband and its durability. As an example, the outside strip 25 and inside strip 31 can each be about 208 mm long and about 18 mm wide. The outside strip 25 can be about 2-7-3.3 mm thick with an indentation pocket being about 1.5-2.0 mm deep. Each indentation pocket can be about 26 mm long and about 12 mm wide when made rectangular. Each side edge from the edge of a pocket to the edge of the strip is about 3.5 mm. The pockets are spaced apart about 4 mm. The end pockets are spaced about 6 mm inward from the adjacent end of a strip, to allow a tab extension of about 3 mm. The thickness of each end tab is about 1.29-1.3 mm, with each tab extending across the width of the outside and inside strips.

The step between the thickness of an end tab and the sandwiched strips is about 1.5-2.0 mm. Thus, the thickness of the wristband is about 2.79-3.30 mm. The length and width of a rectangular graphic panel is slightly less than the length and width of an indentation pocket. This means that a graphic panel can be about 45 mm long, by about 11 mm wide, with a thickness of about 1.5-2.0 mm. The thickness of the inside strip is about 1.01-1.52 mm.

The outside strip 25 and inside strip 31 may also be made of transparent material with a stretch factor of about 150%. The length of the outside strip 25 is about 208 mm and its width is about 19 mm, with a total thickness of about 2.79-3.30 mm. Each window, i.e., indentation pocket 27 is about 45 mm in length, about 18 mm in width and about 2 mm id depth. The area 43, FIG. 13, of the outside strip 25 around each indentation pocket 27 may be transparent, or made translucent, or can be colored or tintied 43, FIG. 13. The inside strip 31, FIG. 13, is generally not seen when the wristband is on the wrist. It can be translucent or transparent, which would facilitate viewing a graphic panel and making the grasping of the graphic panel easier for removal or for insertion of the graphics. Alternatively, the inside strip can be tinted or colored to match the outside strip. The length and width of the inside strip are about 208 mm and about 19 mm, respectively, thereby matching the size of the outside strip. The thickness of the inside stip is about 1.01-1.52 mm. The width of the longitudinal slit is about 2-3 mm, with the longitudinal slit 33 terminating about 5-7 mm from each end of the inside strip.

A third embodiment of the wristband 300 has its outside strip 25, FIG. 14, made of a clear silicon rubber with a series of indentation pockets along its length. There is no inside strip. The graphic panels 29 have a releasable glue on the periphery of their front face. This releasable glue will permit a graphic panel to adhere to a respective outside strip indentation pocket. The graphic panel may then be removed by prying it free.

The graphic panels may be made of flexible material, or semi-flexible material and sufficiently stretchable so as not to break the adhesion when the wristband is stretched of the hand.

Regardless of the embodiment, the graphic panels may have the graphics embossed, or printed, or painted on the outside face which abuts the window or the indentation pocket.

Various materials may be used to construct the wristband. Polypropylene or other flexible, stretchable material that can be injection molded and over-molded, i.e., attached to a more transparent material which may be used for the inside strip.

The outside strip can be molded from TPE or a clear silicone rubber, or another transparent or highly translucent, flexible, stretchable material that can be over-molded (bonded to) a material like TPE.

VERSAFLEX CL 30 is also a material that may be used considered.

The TPE outside strip is injection molded. The polypropylene inside strip is first injection molded and then over-molded onto the outside strip. The longitudinal slit is cut into the inside strip by stamping or other means, generally before the over-mold operation.

The invention has been described in connection with several specific embodiments. However, many changes can be made in the above-described invention without departing from the intent and scope thereof. It is therefore intended that the above description be read in the illustrative sense and not in the limiting sense. Substitutions and changes can be made while still being within the scope and intent of the invention and of the appended claims. 

1. An decorative elastic wristband comprising: an elongate strip of injection molded resilient thermoplastic material; and one or more graphic panels; wherein said elongate strip includes an outer face elongate portion and an inner face elongate portion; wherein said outer face elongate portion has a plurality of successively positioned areas positioned there along, each to receive one, respectively, of said graphic panels; wherein said outer face elongate portion is joined to said inner face elongate portion at the respective edges of each said portion; wherein said inner face elongate portion has an opening through which said graphic panels are respectively inserted to be received by a respective position area; and wherein said wristband capable of stretching to fit over a person's hand and onto a person's wrist to form a decorative wristband.
 2. A decorative wristband for displaying graphic panels, comprising: an elongate center strip portion having an outside face and an inside face; a left side elongate strip portion connected to the left elongate edge of said center strip portion; a right side elongate strip portion connected to the right elongate edge of said center strip portion; wherein said left side elongate strip portion and right side elongate strip portion are capable of being folded onto the inside face of said center strip portion; one or more graphic panels; wherein said center strip portion has a plurality of locations for holding said graphic panels along said elongate length of said center strip portion inside face; and wherein the respective ends of said elongate center strip portion are capable of being joined to form a continuous circular wristband.
 3. The decorative wristband of claim 2, wherein said graphic panels are respectively manually insertable into and removable from said established graphic panel locations.
 4. The decorative wristband of claim 3, wherein said wristband is of elastic thermoplastic material.
 5. The decorative wristband of claim 4, wherein said elastic thermoplastic material is almost transparent.
 6. The decorative wristband of claim 5, wherein said inserted graphic panels can be clearly seen through said wristband material.
 7. A decorative elastic wristband, comprising: a first elongate elastic strip having an outside face and an inside face; one or more display locations molded into said elongate elastic strip along the inside face thereof; one or more graphic panels positioned, one each, within a respective display location; and wherein the first elongate elastic strip material at each of said molded diplay location permits said respective graphic panel to be viewed there through.
 8. The decorative elastic wristband of claim 7, wherein said first elongate elastic strip is flexible and stretchable.
 9. The decorative elastic wristband of claim 7, wherein each said graphic panel carries graphics on one side thereof.
 10. The decorative elastic wristband of claim 7, wherein at least one graphic panel carries graphics on both sides thereof.
 11. The decorative elastic wristband of claim 7, wherein each said graphic panel is adhered to its respective molded display location with a releasable adhesive.
 12. The decorative elastic wristband of claim 7, wherein each said molded display location is an indentation pocket.
 13. The decorative elastic wristband of claim 7, also including a second elongate elastic strip adhere to said first elongate elastic strip on the inside face thereof and covering said plurality of molded display locations.
 14. The decorative elastic wristband of claim 7, also including a second elongate elastic strip adhered to said first elongate elastic strip on the inside face thereof and covering said plurality of molded display locations, wherein said second elongate plastic strip includes and elongate strip extending longitudinally there along, there which said graphic panels are position and removed from said molded display locations.
 15. The decorative elastic wristband of claim 7, wherein said first elongate elastic strip is flexible and stretchable, and also including a second elongate elastic strip adhered to said first elongate elastic strip on the inside face thereof and covering said plurality of molded display locations, wherein said second elongate elastic strip is flexible and stretchable, and wherein said first and second stretchable elastic strips are stretchable to about 150%.
 16. The decorative elastic wristband of claim 7, wherein said first elongate elastic strip is stretchable, and also including a second stretchable elongate elastic strip attached to said first elongate elastic strip thereby covering said plurality of molded display locations, wherein said second stretchable elongate elastic strip includes an elongate slit there though, said slit being stretchable to provide access to said plurality of molded display locations to insert and remove said graphic panels there through. 